Chapter 2
"Ok, no big deal," Luke tried to reassure himself. It didn't work. " You took on the Emperor, this should be easy. It's just a million against one. Plus a big creature ...with big teeth ... long nails... a spiked tail!? Yep, no big deal at all."
One of the flying creatures flew at him and he easily cut it in half. Giving a glance to Mara he checked to make sure she was all right, then waited for the next attack. Two more of them came at him from different sides and he spun taking them both out. He was beginning to feel better about the situation until the big thing decided it was it's turn. It headed towards Luke not even bothering to watch out for the other creatures. He just stepped on anything in his way. "Sith!" Luke cursed craning his head to look at the things face. It was drooling, ready for it's meal, and it obviously had Luke in mind for the main course.
That's when he felt Leia. She was on her way with Han and the kids, to rescue him no doubt. Luke gave a slight smile then looked at the creature again. There was only one thing to do. Luke swung at the creature's legs causing it to fall in pain for the few seconds Luke needed to pick up Mara and run for Han's ship.
Han flew low to the ground with the ramp lowered so Luke could easily jump in. He looked over to Jaina and Jacen brows raised in askance. They both gave him a big smile and told him that Uncle Lukie was on the ship and he could raise the ramp. Han did so and shook his head. It was pretty funny how he took advice from his kids. He felt weird about it though. It could get pretty lonely sometimes. Even if he was surrounded by family, he still felt at times that he was missing some important secret. He glanced at Jaina and Jacen again and they giggled. Han couldn't help the laugh that came from him and as he let happiness take over he realized that he would rather not have the force and be with his family, then have the force and be alone. It was obvious he couldn't have both, but he was happy with what he got.
Leia was at Luke's side the instant he was on the old ship. " Is she ok?" Leia asked concern in her eyes as she glanced over Mara in Luke's arms. She followed Luke as he placed Mara on the med bed. Luke looked at Leia and gave her a smile.
"She'll be fine."
Leia didn't know if he was trying to reassure her or himself but didn't ask. Leia looked over Mara's injuries then turned back to Luke. " I think we should go to Coruscant to get her looked over anyway." Luke nodded in agreement.
" Good idea little sister."
He just missed the hand that lashed out to hit him. " Who ever said you were the oldest? You don't act like it." Before Luke could add his two sense in she changed the subject, " What about her ship?" Luke looked down to study the floor. " I told R2 to watch it until I could go back and pick him up." Leia's eyes widened, " But what will you tell her when she wakes up?" Luke gave Leia a bright smile, " I'll tell her Jaina flew it in." Leia laughed, " Don't you want to live?"
Luke was about to answer when he heard his name being called from the bed. " Luke!" Mara called out again. Luke was too shocked to move. Mara had used his first name, twice! Leia rolled her eyes and nudged her brother towards Mara muttering, "Let's just hope she doesn't ask about her ship."
Mara woke up and didn't know if she was alive or dead. Then the pain hit. She was definitely alive and usually she would be thankful for that but at the moment she wasn't too sure. Her head was killing her and her body felt like it was on fire. She tried turning onto her unhurt side but changed her mind instantly wincing as she returned back to her old position. She called out to Luke thinking he could stop the pain and he was at her side almost instantly. She used her index finger to motion for him to come closer. When he did she grabbed his shirtfront ignoring the pain that shot through her as she did so.
"You did this to me Skywalker. Fix it! Take the pain away now!" He smiled and gently took her hands off his shirtfront saying calmly, "I'll put you in a healing trance." Mara liked that answer and lay back down.
Luke touched his fingers to her forehead lightly and in seconds she was sound asleep. Pain still clouded her features but it was less now. He got up and went to go see Han, Leia and the kids bracing himself for the teasing to come.
Mara awoke a few hours later and as she sat up slowly a pain shot through her side to back. It wasn't as bad now. She stood up cautiously and looked about the room sensing someone was there watching her. Sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed was little Anakin Solo. Her eyes narrowed at the five year old boy.
"What do you want kid?" He just shrugged slightly and mimicked her, " What do you want?" Mara shifted from left foot to right obviously uncomfortable at the kid's knowing look. What he knew, however, she had no idea. Anakin smiled then and jumped down from his seat. " We're here!" He told her excitedly.
"Wonderful! Where?" His smile grew and he ran to the cockpit. Mara bit her lip to keep from smiling. The kid was weird. She figured he meant they were in Coruscant.
The cock pit was crowded and Mara came in slowly holding her side." Hey Jade!" Luke called out when he noticed her. She gave him a look that meant you're-being-way-to-cheery-stop-it-before-I-rethink-my-vow-to-kill-you. He just smiled at her.
Jaina stood up and looked up at Mara. " Can I fly your ship?" Mara's eyes narrowed " Huh?" She asked confused at the girl's question. Jaina continued, " When we get it back...can I fly it?" Jaina waited excitedly for the answer. It took awhile but what she said just connected. " Where's my ship?!!!"
No one paid her any attention because they were too busy looking at the strange planet before them. It wasn't Coruscant, but then again they all knew it was. Mara was oblivious she just continued to shoot death glares at Skywalker. Once they were out of their stupor they all agreed to go see what in sith was up.
Mara was second off the ship making comments about how stupid it was to leave her ship there. Luke ignored her. She growled in frustration, " I feel like blowing something up!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a big explosion threw them all to the ground. Mara groaned in pain and slowly stood. There, not too far away, was a ship blown to pieces. People from the ship were on the ground either hurt or dead.
Mara's brows rose and she looked back to everyone who was staring at her suspicion in their gazes. She rolled her eyes to the sky. " I didn't do it," she stated the obvious. No one looked convinced.
Luke looked at Mara then went to see if he could help the wounded. Mara shook her head muttering something about Jedi and stupid Farm boys who thought they could do anything and help everyone. She followed him but stood a distance away. There was a young woman holding her injured friend and speaking in soft tones. A guard stood over them, his eyes scanning the area for danger. When Luke approached them the guard drew his blaster but Luke being, well... Luke ignored it and kneeled by their side.
" I'm going to put her in a healing trance, maybe she'll make it." The young woman looked at him questioningly and as the guard moved to take Luke away she stopped him. She noticed the lightsaber on his belt and knew he was here to help. She nodded her agreement and Luke placed his fingers lightly on the injured woman's forehead.
A blaster shot cut through the calm winds and headed straight in Luke's direction. Before it could hit Mara had her lightsaber there to block it. She gave them a grim smile then narrowed her eyes searching for the shooter. There, across the way, someone was getting into a speeder. There was no way they could catch the assassin without a speeder of their own but Mara knew the way the assassin worked and knew it had to be a Changeling.
" Get everyone to safety!" She ordered Han then knelt down by Luke.
"Hurrying would be nice! Are you through yet?" He gave her a sickly sweet smile " Just." she raised one of her eyebrows at his comment and was about to make a sarcastic reply when they were interrupted.
"Uncle Lukie, Uncle Lukie," Anakin said tugging on Luke's sleeve. Luke and Mara watched as the hurt woman was carried into the safety of the buildings, followed by her friend, then looked at Anakin.
" I don't think we're in Coruscant anymore...at least not where my home is." Luke gave him a smile then swooped him into his arms. " It sure doesn't look like it, does it?" Anakin nodded his head excitedly then pointed towards the tall tower. It had a round top as if it's a large room for something. Luke looked at Mara questioningly and she shook her head, "It almost looks like...the old Jedi Temple I saw in the Emperor's Data Banks, But that couldn't be...unless we..." she trailed off and looked at Luke. They both knew then, what had happened, and said it in unison. "Time Traveled."
"Ok, no big deal," Luke tried to reassure himself. It didn't work. " You took on the Emperor, this should be easy. It's just a million against one. Plus a big creature ...with big teeth ... long nails... a spiked tail!? Yep, no big deal at all."
One of the flying creatures flew at him and he easily cut it in half. Giving a glance to Mara he checked to make sure she was all right, then waited for the next attack. Two more of them came at him from different sides and he spun taking them both out. He was beginning to feel better about the situation until the big thing decided it was it's turn. It headed towards Luke not even bothering to watch out for the other creatures. He just stepped on anything in his way. "Sith!" Luke cursed craning his head to look at the things face. It was drooling, ready for it's meal, and it obviously had Luke in mind for the main course.
That's when he felt Leia. She was on her way with Han and the kids, to rescue him no doubt. Luke gave a slight smile then looked at the creature again. There was only one thing to do. Luke swung at the creature's legs causing it to fall in pain for the few seconds Luke needed to pick up Mara and run for Han's ship.
Han flew low to the ground with the ramp lowered so Luke could easily jump in. He looked over to Jaina and Jacen brows raised in askance. They both gave him a big smile and told him that Uncle Lukie was on the ship and he could raise the ramp. Han did so and shook his head. It was pretty funny how he took advice from his kids. He felt weird about it though. It could get pretty lonely sometimes. Even if he was surrounded by family, he still felt at times that he was missing some important secret. He glanced at Jaina and Jacen again and they giggled. Han couldn't help the laugh that came from him and as he let happiness take over he realized that he would rather not have the force and be with his family, then have the force and be alone. It was obvious he couldn't have both, but he was happy with what he got.
Leia was at Luke's side the instant he was on the old ship. " Is she ok?" Leia asked concern in her eyes as she glanced over Mara in Luke's arms. She followed Luke as he placed Mara on the med bed. Luke looked at Leia and gave her a smile.
"She'll be fine."
Leia didn't know if he was trying to reassure her or himself but didn't ask. Leia looked over Mara's injuries then turned back to Luke. " I think we should go to Coruscant to get her looked over anyway." Luke nodded in agreement.
" Good idea little sister."
He just missed the hand that lashed out to hit him. " Who ever said you were the oldest? You don't act like it." Before Luke could add his two sense in she changed the subject, " What about her ship?" Luke looked down to study the floor. " I told R2 to watch it until I could go back and pick him up." Leia's eyes widened, " But what will you tell her when she wakes up?" Luke gave Leia a bright smile, " I'll tell her Jaina flew it in." Leia laughed, " Don't you want to live?"
Luke was about to answer when he heard his name being called from the bed. " Luke!" Mara called out again. Luke was too shocked to move. Mara had used his first name, twice! Leia rolled her eyes and nudged her brother towards Mara muttering, "Let's just hope she doesn't ask about her ship."
Mara woke up and didn't know if she was alive or dead. Then the pain hit. She was definitely alive and usually she would be thankful for that but at the moment she wasn't too sure. Her head was killing her and her body felt like it was on fire. She tried turning onto her unhurt side but changed her mind instantly wincing as she returned back to her old position. She called out to Luke thinking he could stop the pain and he was at her side almost instantly. She used her index finger to motion for him to come closer. When he did she grabbed his shirtfront ignoring the pain that shot through her as she did so.
"You did this to me Skywalker. Fix it! Take the pain away now!" He smiled and gently took her hands off his shirtfront saying calmly, "I'll put you in a healing trance." Mara liked that answer and lay back down.
Luke touched his fingers to her forehead lightly and in seconds she was sound asleep. Pain still clouded her features but it was less now. He got up and went to go see Han, Leia and the kids bracing himself for the teasing to come.
Mara awoke a few hours later and as she sat up slowly a pain shot through her side to back. It wasn't as bad now. She stood up cautiously and looked about the room sensing someone was there watching her. Sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed was little Anakin Solo. Her eyes narrowed at the five year old boy.
"What do you want kid?" He just shrugged slightly and mimicked her, " What do you want?" Mara shifted from left foot to right obviously uncomfortable at the kid's knowing look. What he knew, however, she had no idea. Anakin smiled then and jumped down from his seat. " We're here!" He told her excitedly.
"Wonderful! Where?" His smile grew and he ran to the cockpit. Mara bit her lip to keep from smiling. The kid was weird. She figured he meant they were in Coruscant.
The cock pit was crowded and Mara came in slowly holding her side." Hey Jade!" Luke called out when he noticed her. She gave him a look that meant you're-being-way-to-cheery-stop-it-before-I-rethink-my-vow-to-kill-you. He just smiled at her.
Jaina stood up and looked up at Mara. " Can I fly your ship?" Mara's eyes narrowed " Huh?" She asked confused at the girl's question. Jaina continued, " When we get it back...can I fly it?" Jaina waited excitedly for the answer. It took awhile but what she said just connected. " Where's my ship?!!!"
No one paid her any attention because they were too busy looking at the strange planet before them. It wasn't Coruscant, but then again they all knew it was. Mara was oblivious she just continued to shoot death glares at Skywalker. Once they were out of their stupor they all agreed to go see what in sith was up.
Mara was second off the ship making comments about how stupid it was to leave her ship there. Luke ignored her. She growled in frustration, " I feel like blowing something up!"
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a big explosion threw them all to the ground. Mara groaned in pain and slowly stood. There, not too far away, was a ship blown to pieces. People from the ship were on the ground either hurt or dead.
Mara's brows rose and she looked back to everyone who was staring at her suspicion in their gazes. She rolled her eyes to the sky. " I didn't do it," she stated the obvious. No one looked convinced.
Luke looked at Mara then went to see if he could help the wounded. Mara shook her head muttering something about Jedi and stupid Farm boys who thought they could do anything and help everyone. She followed him but stood a distance away. There was a young woman holding her injured friend and speaking in soft tones. A guard stood over them, his eyes scanning the area for danger. When Luke approached them the guard drew his blaster but Luke being, well... Luke ignored it and kneeled by their side.
" I'm going to put her in a healing trance, maybe she'll make it." The young woman looked at him questioningly and as the guard moved to take Luke away she stopped him. She noticed the lightsaber on his belt and knew he was here to help. She nodded her agreement and Luke placed his fingers lightly on the injured woman's forehead.
A blaster shot cut through the calm winds and headed straight in Luke's direction. Before it could hit Mara had her lightsaber there to block it. She gave them a grim smile then narrowed her eyes searching for the shooter. There, across the way, someone was getting into a speeder. There was no way they could catch the assassin without a speeder of their own but Mara knew the way the assassin worked and knew it had to be a Changeling.
" Get everyone to safety!" She ordered Han then knelt down by Luke.
"Hurrying would be nice! Are you through yet?" He gave her a sickly sweet smile " Just." she raised one of her eyebrows at his comment and was about to make a sarcastic reply when they were interrupted.
"Uncle Lukie, Uncle Lukie," Anakin said tugging on Luke's sleeve. Luke and Mara watched as the hurt woman was carried into the safety of the buildings, followed by her friend, then looked at Anakin.
" I don't think we're in Coruscant anymore...at least not where my home is." Luke gave him a smile then swooped him into his arms. " It sure doesn't look like it, does it?" Anakin nodded his head excitedly then pointed towards the tall tower. It had a round top as if it's a large room for something. Luke looked at Mara questioningly and she shook her head, "It almost looks like...the old Jedi Temple I saw in the Emperor's Data Banks, But that couldn't be...unless we..." she trailed off and looked at Luke. They both knew then, what had happened, and said it in unison. "Time Traveled."